Comments on: After Disaster, Laundry.

By: Otilia

Otilia — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 00:51:14 +0000

Your means of describing the whole thing in this post is truly pleasant, all can effortlessly understand it,
Thanks a lot.

By: On Praying to a Fox in Japan | This Japanese Life. | 生命を外面九天です

On Praying to a Fox in Japan | This Japanese Life. | 生命を外面九天です — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:16:31 +0000

[...] Japanese stoicism on display in the aftermath of the triple disasters fits the Shinto understanding of shifting [...]

By: My Five Most Popular Posts of the Rabbit Year H.23 | This Japanese Life. | 生命を外面九天です

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:51:52 +0000

[...] 1. After Disaster, Laundry. (March 15, 2011) On Japanese stoicism in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake. [Read it] [...]

By: Fallout from Japan’s Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster | Globalization101

Fallout from Japan’s Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster | Globalization101 — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:33:19 +0000

[...] 6 Belson, Ken. “Certainties of Modern Life Upended in Japan.” New York Times. March 15, 7 “After Disaster, Laundry.” This Japanese Life. March 15, 2011. 8 Nakamura, David. “Japan issues radiation warning on tap [...]

By: On Nature in Japan, or: On Getting Killed By a Wild Goat in America | This Japanese Life. | 生命を外面九天です

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:02:22 +0000

[...] is pushing up through the sidewalks here; it’s erupting and moving and shaking, and people are usually dying when it [...]

By: Sel

Sel — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:59:11 +0000

Hi. I am new to your blog, and I also enjoyed it.
I was living, studying and teaching part-time in Sendai at the time of the earthquake. Unlike you I have returned home to the UK as, quite frankly, I was terrified by the whole experience and having a small child decided it was safest to get out of the area.
I am now living at my parents house with my wife and child, seeking employment and generally feeling that I may have made the wrong decission. I almost feel like I abandoned the Japanese, who embrassed me, in their moment of need…
I wish I had the courage to stay and help them rebuild instead of only being able to send wishes from afar.

By: owwls

owwls — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:03:09 +0000

Frankly speaking, unless you want a full time job teaching, there’s not much you can do (as a nonfluent foreigner) that can help. In disaster areas, the last thing they need are people who need translators, food and shelter. I understand your intentions are good, but the language and culture barrier would arguably make you more of a burden than an aid.

That said, if you are interested in teaching, April is the start of the school year and many positions have been filled. Of course, there has been a foreigner exodus for some reason, so on the eastern side of Japan there may be openings. The next round of openings will be August-ish, when JET contracts expire, but that will still be slim pickings since many will still be reserved for JETS.

Best of luck on your efforts!

By: Martin Francis

Martin Francis — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:47:15 +0000

Hi, I am new to your blog – thanks for putting it up, it’s interesting to hear about the awful events… I’m a 30 year old TEFL teacher in London, England. I have wanted to go to Japan for many years but have never had the chance. My application for a Japanese Working Holiday Visa went in 2 days before the earthquake. Now that I sucessfully have the visa, I have no idea what to do. I’ve been teaching for 8 months and had Japanese lessons, but I’m hearing very contradictory things about Japan and teaching there. Should I go now, around September, or next February (last chance)? I’m not so interested in teaching full time so I asked the red cross if there were some kind of help group I could join for the tsunami, but they couldn’t help me.

If anyone has any advice my email is martin.francis813@gmail.com
Any advice gratefully received.

By: On the Ephemeral Nature of the Starbucks Sakura Latte | This Japanese Life. | 生命を外面九天です

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:17:27 +0000

[...] But the underlying principle of the cherry blossom is that it is a temporary kind of beauty; it’s here and it passes. I’ve documented Japan’s relationship with ruins here before, but cherry blossom viewing touches that same spot in the Japanese heart: Watching beauty, aware that it will decline, and letting it be. [...]

By: Earthquake, Tsunami Warnings in Japan | This Japanese Life. | 生命を外面九天です

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:15:02 +0000

[...] After Disaster, Laundry: Why the Japanese went back to work. [...]